CHRISTCHURCH MP Christopher Chope said the recent proposal to merge Royal Bournemouth with Poole General Hospital had proved to be a “big distraction” for hospital management.

The MP said: “I am glad that the merger business which was a big distraction is out of the way and they can now focus on their responsibilities and issues.

“We are very lucky this is a good hospital compared with many others and we want to ensure that it continues to improve.”

He added: “It is vindication for those of us that were concerned about the weakening effect of the merger.”

He also said a “knee-jerk reaction” in terms of resignations would not be effective and that he would “concentrate on the directors and the trust itself.”

“I think it is a matter for the board chairman and board of directors.

“Elected governors need to be encouraged to be more critical.

“I think from speaking to some, there is an atmosphere that if they say anything that is anything other than supportive they are guilty of treachery.”

Conor Burns, Bournemouth West MP, said: “The local population will be shocked at some of the instances of elderly people soiling themselves before nursing staff or other staff could help them get to the toilet.

“Examples such as the patient who wasn’t fed because somebody had failed to remove a nil by mouth sign for the previous occupant of the bed are particularly shocking.

“Now that the CQC has identified these failings I think the trust is responding in the right way by increasing numbers of nursing staff and targeting them on wards where there’s a high concentration of elderly patients and moving nursing sisters who oversaw those wards where those failings occurred.

“When elderly people go into hospital they are very vulnerable and are quite literally putting their lives in the hands of the clinical and nursing staff. These failings are entirely unacceptable and the trust must move very, very quickly as I think they are.”

Tobias Ellwood, MP for Bournemouth East, said: “Whilst it's welcome to see the hospital's children’s care, midwifery, critical care and end of life care services described as ‘good’, Bournemouth residents will rightly be shocked to learn that two wards providing elderly medical care were described as ‘inadequate, not always safe or well led’.”

“The trust’s board must now explain why the internal scrutiny process failed so spectacularly in identifying two wards out of thirty were so poor; how the 70 staff shortages will be filled; and how security in A&E will be improved.

“I will be meeting with the Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Michael Richards, to take his advice on whether he has confidence in the hospital's leadership to rectify these failings.”

CQC demands

CQC has told the Trust it must take action to improve in the following areas: n All patients need to have their needs assessed and care delivered safely and in a timely manner by staff who are skilled to do so.

- At all times, patients must be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve and basic care needs must be met.

- The trust must reassure itself and stakeholders that all opportunities to drive quality improvement and quality assurance are taken.

- The trust must ensure that the required number of staff with the correct skills are employed and managed shift by shift, to demonstrate that there are sufficient staff to meet people’s needs.